ACQUITTED OF ARSON.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, 24 May 1910, Page 5

ACQUITTED OF ARSON.

RAILWAY PORTER CHARGED WITH THEFT.

DUNEDIN, May 23. At the Supreme Court to-day Andrew Moore, charged with setting fire to a building at Port Chalmers, and on a second count with attempting to set fire to a building, was acquitted. Albert Whitmore Churnside, porter on the railway at Port Chalmers, was charged with stealing a handbag, a gold watch aud chain, and several rings, ihe property of Agnes Henderson. The case for the prosecution was that last November Mrs Henderson went to Port Chalmers by train, and on leaving the carriage she forgot her handbag containing the articles mentioned. She discovered the loss a few hours later, but enquiries failed to lead to the production of the property. Some months later detectives found the accused's wife wearing one of the rings. When questioned on the matter the accused said he had bought the ring for a girl at Palmerston North, but she had returned it, and he subsequently gave it to his wife. The girl referred to denied having received the ring from accused. The case is not yet concluded.